CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Tiger baseball was unable to complete the sweep on Saturday with Huntington University, winning game three of the series 3-1 but falling in the final game, 3-2.
Miguel Solano led Campbellsville (5-1) with three hits – all in game one.
Alex Echevarria also finished with three hits and scored a run in the doubleheader.
Game one – Campbellsville 3, Huntington 1 –
Nick Przybylek (1-0) went six strong innings, allowing only five hits and one earned run. He also struck out seven Foresters in his first start as a Tiger.
Przybylek allowed the lone Huntington run in the first inning. After a leadoff single, Przybylek and battery mate
Riley Joyce were unable to get on the same page, as a passed ball and wild pitch later, allowed Adam Roser to advance to third. Shea Beauchamp grounded out softly to
Casey Scott at third base to score the Foresters only run.
Campbellsville answered in the second with a trio of runs. After
Alex Echevarria singled and
Romello Carbuccia reached on a hit-by-pitch, the two moved up on a balk by Huntington's DJ Moore (0-1).
Mike Castellano picked up an RBI single to tie the game.
Riley Joyce then reached on a drag bunt to load the bases and the Tigers almost let an opportunity pass by.
Jacob Carrera popped out and
Miguel Solano popped up a squeeze bunt but
Cameron Ketchen delivered a two RBI double to right-center field to put the Tigers ahead, 3-1.
That was all Przybylek needed, as he calmed down in the later innings. He sat down 15 of the next 17 Huntington batters from the second inning to the fifth and didn't allow a baserunner past first.
In the seventh, Przybylek allowed a leadoff double to TJ Lindstrand and for the second-straight day, coach
Beauford Sanders went to his closer
Jake Pannunzio. The southpaw sat the Foresters down 1-2-3 to earn his third save of the year.
Game two – Huntington 3, Campbellsville 2
Campbellsville scratched across single runs in the second and fourth innings.
Casey Scott led off with a double and was followed with RBI double by Joyce to put CU ahead, 1-0. In the fourth, Huntington starter Connor West walked consecutive batters but reliever Colton Punches wasn't unable to end the threat. Solano delivered an RBI double down the left field line to push the CU lead, 2-0.
Nelson Quark (0-1) followed Przybylek's lead and went 5.1 strong innings. After a single in the first inning to Dalton Combs, Quark did not allow hit until the sixth – sitting down 13-straight Foresters.
But then the flood gates opened for Quark and the Tigers. Dylan Henricks singled and advanced to third on Roser's base knock. Then Beauchamp delivered the big blow – a two RBI double off the left field fence – to tie the game at two. Coach Sanders once again went to his closer Pannunzio in but Combs drove in pinch runner Allen Shannon from second to score the go-ahead run.
The Tigers rallied in the seventh inning with two outs. Echevarria doubled of the third base bag and Scott reached on a walk to put runners on first and second and set up a thrilling last play.
Mike Castellano hit a missile to centerfield but Brock Gower made a diving out-the-shoulder catch to seal the win for Huntington.
Quark finished allowing five hits in his 5.1 innings and all three runs were credit to him. Punches (1-0) picked up the win for Huntington.
Campbellsville will now host Brescia University on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. ET. That game can be streamed via online video and radio on the CU Sports Network, 88.7 The Tiger.
